City of Wanneroo flags sand drift on the agenda for public comment

A LOCAL law relating to sand drift issues in the City of Wanneroo is out for public comment until May 13.

The City has released the draft site erosion sand drift local law in response to ongoing issues resulting from development and subdivision works.

“It is proposed to make a new local law to complement powers that the City has under its Local Planning Scheme and Part 3 of the Local Government Act 1995,” the City’s website said.

“The proposed new local law will deal mainly with smaller sites or lower levels of sand drift problems which occur from time to time.”

The law would include an obligation for owners or occupiers to stabilise sand and take steps to “ensure no sand or dust is released from land by wind, water or any other cause”.

It would also allow the City to issue a notice to owners requiring them to comply with that obligation and prevent sand or dust escaping, and “make good” on any damage caused.

“Any person who commits an offence under this local law is liable, on conviction, to a penalty not less than $500 and not exceeding $5000,” the law said.

“If the offence is of a continuing nature, to an additional penalty not exceeding $500 for each day or part of a day during which the offence has continued.”

Residents regularly raise the issue of dust suppression at Two Rocks Yanchep Residents Association meetings, with concerns about the amount of sand blowing from new subdivisions onto surrounding properties and roads.

At the March meeting, Peter Stainthorpe said there should be passive monitoring devices on estates to record excessive dust, similar to those used on mining sites.

Wanneroo councillor Linda Aitken said City staff had told her those were not appropriate but rangers had spoken to developers, particularly about issues around Moorpark Avenue in Yanchep.

With three developments – Yanchep Golf Estate, Vertex and Jindowie – underway in that area, Cr Aitken said the City would do ongoing site inspections.

Acumen Development Solutions principal Nick Perrignon, who oversees the Atlantis Beach and Capricorn developments, talked about measures taken to control dust at the February meeting.

According to TRYRA secretary Lorraine Jackson, Mr Perrignon said he would attend the meeting every three months to relay information about the developments and address concerns residents might have.

At the March 21 meeting, TRYRA president Peter Wimsett said the best example of dust suppression was the Mitchell Freeway extension works.